Tow target releasing device



Aug. 28, 1934. A. c. FOULK TOW TARGET RELEASING DEVICE Filed Aug. 5,1953 RKMM M T. M my@ m w? ,Q /ff,

Patented Aug. 428, 1934 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOW TARGETRELEASING DEVICE Albert G. Foulk, Riverside, Calif.

Application August 5, 1933, Serial No. 683,758

3 Claims. (Cl. 124-16) (Granted under the act o! March .3, 1883, asamended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. '157) determined course of re upon anextended towtarget. One method consists of releasing the extendedtow-cable and attached target and of permitting-'the same to fall in thevicinity of the battery firing, whereupon the aircraft returns to itsairdrome for replacements. The secv ond method consists of reeling inthe exposed tow-target, of attaching a fresh tow-target to thetow-cable, and of unreeling the same; following which procedure theformer target is retained in the aircraft or dropped to the batterybelow, as desired. Both of the foregoing methods consume a considerableperiodv of time. 'Ifhe latter method often results in a brokentow-cable.

It is an object of my invention to attach a plurality of tow-targetstothe inner portion of an extended tow-cable by means of slidable ringsand to` successively release these rings and attached targets forrearward travel toward the outer extremity of `the tow-cable. Each newlyreleased tow-target automatically displaces its predecessor, whichthereupon falls to the battery below. y

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, my invention consists of certain new and novelimprovements yin tow-target releasing devices, which will beVhereinafter more fully villustrated and described in the` accompanyingdrawing, and more vparticularly pointed out in the appended Claims. I li rvg.

Referring to the drawing in which numerals of like character designatesimilar parts throughout the several claims:

Fig. 1 isa side elevation of my invention, with a tow-target ringattached thereto.

Fig-2 shows my invention in the process of releasing an old andreceiving a new tow-target ring.

Referring to Fig. 1, the body portion of my invention consists of anelongated U-shaped channel 1 provided at one extremity with a tapered`e'ncl"..,2 and atthe other` extremity with a closed end'f. VA tow-cable4 is pivotally' attached to the ,tapered` end 2 by means of a xed pin 5.Anvopening 6 is provided in the channel 1 immediately adjacent theclosed end 3. A lever 7 is pivotally attached between ends to thechannel 1 by means of a clevis pin 8 and a cotter pin 9. The lever 7 isprovided at one of its extremities with an engaging hook 10 adapted toregister with the opening 6 in the channel 1 and at its other extremitywith a tapered end 11. A leaf spring 12 is flxedly attached at one ofits ends to a key-hole 13 provided in the base of the engaging hook 10.The lever 7 is normally disposed in the position shown in Fig. 1. Thebase of a lever 14 is pivotally attached to the channel 1 by means of aclevis pin 15 and a cotter pin 16 and is provided with a lobedprojection 17 adapted to limit clockwise rotation of the lever 14. Themid-portion of the lever 14 is provided with a cammed surface 18 forengaging the outer extremity of the tapered end' 11 of the lever 7. Theouter endof the lever 14 comprises a lever portion 19 adapted to bedepressed entirely within the channel 1, as shown in Fig. 2. Theforegoing parts complete the engaging and releasing portion of myinvention.

A plurality of rings 20 are iixedly attached to a like plurality oftow-targets by means of hinged brackets 21 and target cables 22. As hasbeen previously stated, the rings 20 are slidably secured to thetow-cable 4 at its point of attachment to the aircraft proper. Anysuitable device may be employed to retain the rings 20 within the,aircraft during extension or retraction of the towrelease of onetow-target is accomplished through arrival of a new tow-target at theengaging and fr releasing portion of my invention. The on-coming rings20h, hinged bracket 2lb and tow-cable 22h have traveled past the taperedend 2 and coming into engagement with the trigger portion 19 of thelever 14, have forced the latter into the enclosure formed by thechannel 1. Corresponding upward movement of the cammed surface 18rotates the end 11 upward and the engaging hook 10 downward. Theforegoing rotation of the lever '7 is accompanied by release of theoutgoing ring 20a, hinged bracket 21a and tow target cable 22a fromfurther connection with the aircraft. As

the ring h clears the trigger portion 18, in its aft passage along thechannel 1, the leaf spring 12 automatically returns the engaging hook 10of the lever 'I to the position shown in Fig. 1. Projection of theengaging hook 10 through the opening 6 of the channel 1 prevents furtherpassage of the ring 20h to the rear. The foregoing operation is repeatedas each successive ring is released from the aircraft.

Fig. 3 shows a cross-section -through the channel 1, just forward of theoutgoing ring 20a and engaging hook 10. Attachment of the former ring tothe tow-cable 22a, by means of the hinged bracket 21a, is also clearlyshown as are crosssections of the lever 'I and leaf spring 12.

I claim:-

1. A tow-target releasing device comprising, an elongatedv U-shapedchannel having a tapered leading end and a trailing end provided with anelongated opening at its outer extremity through the bottom of saidchannel, an engaging lever having the mid-portion pivotally secured tosaid channel and having a forward portion tapered in side profile and anaft portion terminating in` an outwardly turned hook adapted to projectthrough said elongated opening, spring means for normally retaining saidlever in engaging position,

and a releasing lever pivotally secured just aft of the tapered leadingend of said channel hav'- ing a cammed surface for engaging the taperedforward portion of said engaging lever, said releasing lever furtherhaving a portion projecting without said channel and a lobed projectionforward of its point of pivotation for engaging the bottom of saidchannel such that said cammed surface continuously contacts the forwardportion of said engaging lever.

2. A tow-target releasing device comprising, an elongated U-shapedchannel having a tapered leading end terminating in a fixed pin and atrailing end provided with an elongated opening at the outer extremitythrough the bottom of said channel, an engaging lever having themid-portion secured to said channel by a bearing pin and having aforward portion tapered in side prole and an aft portion terminating inan outwardly turned hook adapted to project through said elongatedopening and having a spring retaining recess at the base of said hook, aleaf spring having one end fixed within said spring retaining recess thebottom oi' said channel such that said cammed surface continuouslycontactsthe forward portion oi.' said engaging lever.

3. A tow-target releasing device comprising,

an elongated. U-shaped channel having a tapered leading end terminatingin a xed pinand a closed trailing end provided with an elongated openingat its outer extremity through the bottom of said channel, an engaginglever having the mid-portion secured to said channel by a bearing pinand having a forward portion tapered in side profile and an aft portionterminating ln an outwardly turned hook adapted to project through saidPelongated Vopening and having a spring retaining recess at the base ofsaid hook, a leaf 'spring having one end fixed within said springretaining recess and its body portion extending substantially forward ofthe engaging lever Abearing pin such that the outwardly projecting hookof said engaging lever is normally retained in engaging position, withinsaid channel, and a releasing lever secured just aft of the taperedleading end of said channel by a bearing pin and having a cammed surfacefor engaging the tapered portion of said engaging lever and depressingthe same against the bent portion of said channel, said retaining leverfurther having a portion normally projecting without but adapted to berotated entirely within said chan-

